They are accused of stealing approximately 250 aluminum bins from Lion Elastomers, a rubber manufacturer, between July 1, 2016 and April 5, 2017.

According to probable cause affidavits, Lewis, who is a shipping manager at the plant, had the bins driven to Maldonado in Beaumont, who then sold them.

Maldonado admitted that "he had taken and sold several Lion Elastomers OTD Aluminum Bins that he admitted to being stolen," the affidavit said.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office found that he had sold approximately 100 bins to a Beaumont business, and located another 150 bins at J&C Pallet in Beaumont.

Lewis denied any involvement in the theft, but was implicated by three separate witness statements, Detective Nickey Garsee wrote.

Muller, who owns Rellum Trucking, said Lewis and Maldonado paid him between $200 and $400 for each delivery of bins to J&C Pallet, starting in August 2016, according to the affidavit.

He claimed he thought the bins were being taken for repair, and said he sent an anonymous letter to the plant manager "in order to get out of the illegal activity" in March 2017, but continued to move the bins after he knew they were stolen.

Muller estimated that he delivered "around 1500" bins to J&C Pallet, though detectives recovered and seized only 250.

If convicted, the three men face up to 99 years in prison each, and fines of up to $10,000.